| Sonoma Valley is home to
about 40,000 people who are as individual
as their homes; everyone from migrant agricultural
workers to millionaires. The Sonoma Valley
Appellation has become known internationally
for its exceptional vineyards and wines.
Residents who have moved away and then returned
to Sonoma Valley comment that it is the
warmth of the people, the natural beauty
of the area and the comfortable climate
that brought them back home. These communities
are still relatively undiscovered and charmingly
picturesque, situated along the Sonoma Valley
floor next to the ridge that defines the
border of Napa County.
Housing
A few blocks from Sonoma’s town plaza
is a new development of townhomes, but by
and large the housing inventory of the towns
in Sonoma Valley are characterized by unique
homes that are slightly more expensive on
average than many other areas in Sonoma
county. The increased price of these Sonoma
Valley homes is due to higher demand compared
to scarcer supply. But each town has unique
characteristics and home values differ widely
as a result. This is where the expertise
of a real estate agent is essential to both
buyers and sellers.
Weather
The Sonoma Valley has a nearly ideal Mediterannean-style
climate characterized by warm, dry, sunny
summer days followed by cool evenings. The
rainy season is concentrated between December
and February.
Click
here for current weather conditions
Click on any link to
go directly to a town profile, or scroll
down
BOYES HOT SPRINGS, AGUA CALIENTE, FETTERS
HOT SPRINGS:
To the north of the town of Sonoma, along
Highway 12, lie the comparatively more affordable
communities of Boyes Hot Springs, Agua Caliente
and Fetters Hot Springs. These communities
used to be resort communities for tourists
to enjoy the warm natural springs of the
region. While many of the original spas
are gone, people from around the world can
still choose from any number of spas to
become rejuvenated.
EL VERANO AND SCHELLVILLE:
To the south of the town of Sonoma lies
the tiny burg of Schellville, southwest
lies El Verano, and to the west the Los
Arroyos Golf Course.
KENWOOD AND GLEN ELLEN:
Farther north along Highway 12 lies Kenwood
and Glen Ellen. West of Glen Ellen lies
the 800 acre Jack London Historic State
Park. The park comprises roughly half of
the original ranch where the famous writer
spent his last decade. There are trails
to the original writer’s cottage,
a dam, a lake, and a bathhouse the writer
built; some of the trails lead to views
of the surrounding Valley of the Moon. Bicycling
and horseback riding is permitted on certain
trails.
SONOMA:
Just under 10,000 people live in the town
of Sonoma. At its heart lies the central
town plaza, which provides a glimpse into
the past with historical landmark buildings
dating from the era between 1830’s
and 1850’s. Today, social activities
around the plaza include weekly farmers
markets and concerts in the summer, a park
for local families and tourists to gather
plus interesting boutiques, fine restaurants,
and the city hall.
History:
Sonoma’s history is colorful. Although
inhabited by Native Americans for some 12,000
years, the area was almost entirely populated
by the Spanish within a few decades of the
arrival of the Europeans in the early 1800s.
In 1823 Sonoma became the site of the last
of the 21 missions built in California by
the Franciscan order, which included the
well known Father Junipero Serra. Within
no time the mission became part of the infrastructure
deployed by the Mexican government, namely
General Vallejo, who eventually set up the
town plaza.
The Bear Flag Revolt of 1846 took place
at the Sonoma Plaza, an event which, along
with the United States’ war against
Mexico, eventually led to California becoming
the 32nd state in the United States. Ironically,
Mexico ceded its territories right before
the discovery of gold. Six historical buildings
in the near vicinity form a state park which
includes one of California’s 21 historic
missions: the Mission San Francisco Solano
de Sonoma
Because of the area’s soils and ideal
Mediterannean style climate characterized
by warm dry summer days followed by cool
evenings, the area is ideal for growing
wine grapes and has become a world class
wine region.
Although Sonoma Valley had always had wild
grapes, it’s wine growing history
began with the Franciscan Fathers. In the
late 1850’s the state of California
funded the research of Colonel Agoston Haraszthy,
a Hungarian immigrant who studied viticulture
and the methods of the Europeans and began
Sonoma’s winemaking tradition in earnest.
He eventually helped found the Buena Vista
winery, and today Sonoma Valley is considered
by many to be the birthplace of California
winemaking.
Back to top
|
